BY SAM SMITH
Andy Parslow hung out learning set-pieces in the course of the first nationwide lockdown. His analysis fashioned the premise of a presentation to then AFC Wimbledon boss Glyn Hodges and coach Mark Robinson on how the primary group may enhance throughout deadball conditions.
Club restrictions meant that his concepts didn’t initially come to fruition. But after Hodges departed in January, newly-appointed head coach Robinson promoted Parslow, who had been answerable for the U14s group, to the first-team workers.
Parslow’s preliminary function was to coach attacking set-pieces however has advanced to the title of restarts coach – not a job function that’s widespread, if in any respect, at golf equipment within the EFL. Any time the ball goes out of play throughout an 11-v-11 coaching match, he’s implementing concepts to both create or to defend assaults.
Liverpool’s throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark was a supply of inspiration.
“During the primary lockdown, I checked out fairly a little bit of Gronnemark’s stuff and did just a few webinars with him,” Parslow instructed the South London Press. “I actually began to take a look at all of the set-pieces and I offered one thing to Robbo and Glyn final summer time on the place I noticed it going with the primary group.
“At the time, with price range restrictions, the pandemic and the membership maybe not realizing what it had out there to them, they weren’t capable of take it on. But when Robbo took cost it was one thing that he was actually enthusiastic about.
“I simply discover the element of all of it fairly fascinating. They are solely small good points – we’re not going to win the league on throw-ins. But let’s say we retain possession at 60 per cent of our throw-ins, if we get that as much as 85 to 90 per cent then now we have extra alternative to dominate the ball and subsequently extra alternative to attain extra objectives.
“Throw-ins are such a frequent incidence throughout a sport. If you’re dropping possession eight occasions out of 10 from your personal throw-ins, and it’s not unusual for that to be the case…if these have been regular passes there can be severe questions being requested about your capabilities as a group. A throw-in is simply one other move. Giving it correct consideration to see how efficient we’re in these conditions, I feel it’s a no brainer.
“On common, there are about 40 throw-ins per sport, in order that’s 40 alternatives in a sport for a group to keep up possession or to attempt to construct a sustainable assault, so let’s take a look at these. Let’s take a look at kick-offs – can we attempt to impose our personalities proper from the primary move of the sport?”
Wimbledon’s squad has taken nicely to such element being utilized to restarts. There have been teething points in the course of the course of. The Dons conceded from a easy quick nook routine of their 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town two weeks in the past.
But the gamers have even texted Parslow whereas watching different matches to debate set-pieces.
“In the primary week or so, there was an enormous quantity of element being thrown at them,” mentioned Parslow.
“The info was perhaps just a little bit daunting however they’ve been actually receptive in all of the areas.
“The better part about it’s that they’ve change into extra forthcoming with their very own concepts. We had a restarts assembly the opposite day and we have been speaking about how we have been going to defend corners. We have been enjoying round with a few concepts and it grew to become a dialogue.
“Rather than it being: ‘I inform you what to do and also you do it’, we come to a conclusion they usually should handle it.
“Unfortunately I can’t cease the sport, come on the pitch and say: ‘Right, it’s worthwhile to be right here, it’s worthwhile to be right here.’ The gamers should handle it themselves as soon as they’re on the pitch, so having them concerned within the decision-making course of is huge. “Without the gamers, it’s simply an concept and a presentation. Having them coming to me with concepts and options is good, as a result of it stimulates dialogue.”
Parslow has risen shortly via academy teaching. He spent a 12 months’s internship as an analyst at Luton Town after graduating from college, earlier than taking in spells within the academies of Wycombe Wanderers, Brentford and Watford. He can be a UEFA A license holder – the second-highest teaching qualification.
“I beloved academy teaching. In academy soccer, the result of a match isn’t the final word goal – it’s the event of the gamers.
“I’m extremely aggressive. My persona has come throughout as perhaps overly wanting on the final result. That may need partly been in Robbo’s thoughts when he requested me to return and work with the primary group, in that my character is rather more suited to this finish of the spectrum.
“It is that which impressed me to start out taking a look at these types of issues (restarts) as a result of throughout lockdown once I was taking a look at set-pieces, my pondering was ‘what can I do to search out an edge to assist us to win extra video games?’. Because I’m solely involved about successful.”
PICTURE: SEAN GOSLING
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